Willunga Almond Blossom Festival 27 - 28 July 2019

What: Willunga Almond Blossom Festival 2019
When: Saturday 27 July 11am - 9pm, Sunday 28 July 10.30am - 4pm
Fireworks 7pm Saturday
Where: Willunga Recreation Park, Main Rd, Willunga 5172
Tickets: Adult $8 Family $20 up to 4 children, Concession/Student (5-16) $5
Details: www.almondblossomfestival.com.au
 
50 years of the Willunga Almond Blossom Festival a fundraiser for the community-owned Willunga Recreation Park. Events include a street parade, live music, market stalls and delicious food, fireworks and almond-related activities including almond cracking, cookery competitions and much more...

50 YEARS OF FUNDRAISING by the WILLUNGA ALMOND BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

In 2019, the Willunga community proudly celebrates 50 years of fundraising for the Willunga Recreation Park with a fun-filled festival, which starts on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July. A bit of history – fifty years ago, the volunteer park management committee decided to raise funds to build a large new multi-purpose hall. So began the Willunga Almond Blossom Festival, first held in July 1969. It took 10 years of festivals, some borrowed funds and much donated labour to build the $183,000 Festival Hall in 1979.

This recreation facility has been community-owned and managed since 1875, and is home to more than 20 clubs and organisations. It is also host to many events, such as festivals, concerts, markets and movie nights, and epitomises the heart and soul of Willunga. The 50th annual Willunga Almond Blossom Festival is a major event on the regional calendar, attracting families and friends for a weekend of excitement, featuring fireworks, food, show rides, market stalls and a street parade.

At this year’s festival there will be plenty of almond-related activities. A ‘Festival Cake’, using a recipe by local culinary historian Allison Reynolds, will be one of the sections in our almond-focused cookery competition. Kids will enjoy the Children’s Almond Trail, collecting goodies and almonds, as well as helping to decorate the Festival Hall with their colouring-in competition entries. Sunday’s highlight is the almond cracking competition, so come along and enter on the day to test your skills – all ages can take part. Find out more at the Almond Hub.

In the Live Music marquee, you will see an eclectic range of artists over the two days, with locals Dustbowl Chic and Willunga Ukuleles, and crowd favourites, the Sisters of Abundance Choir. If music is not your scene, there are wild and noisy show rides, craft activities, market stalls, woodturning displays, science shows, pony rides and dog agility demonstrations, plus a visit from Radicool Reptiles. And be sure to see the fireworks display on Saturday night at 7 pm, which is always a highlight of the festival weekend.

Our 50th anniversary festival will host a range of delicious food, wine and beer. Whether you want real ‘carnie food’, wood fired pizza, atomic burgers, simple healthy snacks or Asian dishes, you will find them at the festival. Our Wine Bar will provide mulled wine and almond inspired cocktails, while Willunga’s very own Shifty Lizard Craft Brewery and South Coast Brewing Company will be there to share their passion for craft beer.

While the face of the Willunga Almond Blossom Festival has changed over the years, the money it raises is even more important now that major redevelopments have begun. To keep up with what is planned to celebrate this significant anniversary, pick up the 50th anniversary souvenir booklet, and like the Willunga Almond Blossom Festival Facebook page. Visit www.almondblossomfestival.com.au, where you can apply to enter the almond-based cookery competition, join in the street parade, and buy fair day entry tickets (which will also be available at the gate). Tickets cost $8 per day for adults, $20 per family of up to 4 children, and $5 for concession holders and students aged 5 to 16 years. Gates are open from 11 am to 9 pm on Saturday and from 10.30 am to 4 pm on Sunday.

For further information or sponsorship opportunities contact Heather from the Willunga Almond Blossom Festival